Songs and Dances by the Fire

As Xilutaiya and her companions drew near the square, the immense bonfire cast their shadows long across the ground. Even from more than ten meters away, the crimson firelight washed over her in waves of surging heat. Around the perimeter of the square, several drummers held beast-hide drums and beat upon them. They were advanced in age, their deep-set eye sockets and heavily wrinkled skin bathed in the firelight, lending them an indescribably profound air at this moment. An ancient ballad echoed by the bonfire. With every beat of the drum, the people circling the fire lifted and stamped their feet. At times, the ring rotated clockwise; at times, it reversed. And the circle formed by their linked, crossed arms expanded and contracted in turn. Ballad and dance, drumbeat and flame achieved a wondrous, harmonious resonance, carrying a resonance from ages past—as if their ancestors, people from several eras ago, had gathered around bonfires humming just like this, celebrating peace and harvest, dispelling the chill and terror of the night. Without even realizing it, Xilutaiya and her two companions set down their fish, standing outside the circle of the bonfire and losing themselves in the scene. Before they knew it, someone came over and took Xilutaiya and the others by the hand, leading them into the dance beside the fire. Only then did the three girls realize that quite a few other students had already joined in. Across the bonfire stood Scholar Haide, who nodded and waved to them, signaling that there was nothing to worry about. The firelight swelled with the drumbeats, sending stray sparks drifting into the night sky, and the surging heat radiated outward, bathing everyone circled around the flames. The chill inside their bodies was dispelled, their fatigued frames were filled with vitality once more, and old lingering wounds warmed comfortably, slowly healing unseen. Without any instruction, simply by relaxing their bodies and following the linked arms beside them, their steps naturally fell into rhythm, gradually synchronizing. Another wave of harmonized humming rose, its melody simple, like the beating of one's own pulse and the instinctual release of breath. Grains from the harvest were tossed into the bonfire. Showers of sparks burst outward, uniting into soaring flames that sent forth another wave of heat. Drawn by the call of the fire and the dance, Xilutaiya gradually immersed herself completely, joining the crowd in composing this ancient movement. Only when their feet grew sore and weary did the dance around the bonfire finally draw to an end. [Ancient Ritual: Bonfire and Dance] (Beast Fang · Blood Law · Blazing Sun) "During the Seventh Era, the King of Primeval Savagery, Muleituo, led the First People across the Vast Star Wilderness, trekking for nearly twelve years through myriad hardships before reaching the Midsummer Land, where they founded humanity's first home. To commemorate that long expedition and celebrate a peaceful harvest, people danced around bonfires, listening to elders hum the ancient songs of the First People." - Requirements: Although the requirements of this ritual are lenient, it still demands the three fundamental elements: rhythmic beast-hide drumbeats (Beast Fang), a crowd circling in dance (Blood Law), and a grand, blazing bonfire (Blazing Sun). If one is well-versed in the legendary twelve-year trek of the King of Primeval Savagery, Muleituo, the more closely the arrangements synchronize with the ancient legend, the stronger the ritual's effects will be. - Notes: Once initiated, the ritual naturally adjusts to gradually synchronize the pulses of those circling the bonfire. When the drumbeats, dance steps, and flames achieve a harmonious rhythm, the ritual's effects take hold. Because this legend originates from the King of Primeval Savagery, Muleituo, non-human races cannot participate; doing so will disrupt the ritual. Drums must be made of animal hide, or the ritual will likewise be disrupted. During the Rising Wind Season, bonfires naturally carry a faint Blazing Sun attribute, requiring no extra preparations; during other wind seasons, items of the Blazing Sun attribute are required to make adjustments. - Effects: Dispels the chill and terror of the night, harmonizes bodily rhythms, and soothes old injuries. (Can suppress the erosion of the Sleeping Winter and Nightmare attributes, soothe the mind, and ease old wounds.) ——— That night, after the dancing around the bonfire ended, the students shared the prepared feast with the local villagers. There were chunks of meat roasted over the fire, freshly baked meat-stuffed pies and breads, and a modest amount of ale. Even Iona, who was usually the most aloof, sat and ate alongside everyone this evening. When the gathering concluded, drowsy and relaxed, everyone returned to their lodgings to rest. After an exceptionally good night's sleep, everyone woke the next morning brimming with energy, having never felt in better condition. Was this the power of a ritual? So wondrous, yet impossible to explain in words. Waking in the morning, Xilutaiya recalled the previous night's scene, still finding it hard to believe. In the early morning, after a simple breakfast of wheat porridge, Scholar Haide led the students to the goldenrain grove not far from the village. Strolling beneath the trees blooming with delicate, pale-yellow florets, everyone caught a faint woody fragrance. Fallen leaves and shrubs dotted the forest floor. Passing through the grove, they arrived at a clearing in the forest. Scholar Haide had everyone sit on the ground and began today's lecture. "Listen to the birdsong, and feel the serenity of nature," he said, raising a hand first to let everyone quiet their minds for a moment. Only then did the knowledgeable scholar slowly begin to recount the events of the previous night. "Last night, all of you experienced a rare bonfire gathering. I believe many of you must have sensed something—that this gathering was about far more than overflowing warmth and delicious food," he explained slowly. "Perhaps you have heard, through various means, legends of ancient times and tales passed down across the world. "Many of these legends are not fiction, but history that truly took place. In fact, a legend itself is a form of power, and as more and more people come to know it, coupled with the vast and far-reaching impact it leaves behind, its effects become increasingly pronounced. "A so-called 'ritual' is the reenactment of a legend. "Once you understand this sentence, you have taken your first step toward mastering various 'rituals.' As for how to reenact a legend, that is far more profound and intricate knowledge and art. "Unlike the abilities cultivated by transcendents, the emergence of a ritual's effects does not depend on one's own 'attribute rank,' but on the ritual's degree of completion and how closely it accords with the legend. "This means that even a mortal, so long as they perfectly reenact a certain legend and fulfill the 'ritual,' can harness the immense effects of the 'ritual' to change the tide. "What you experienced last night was the ancient ritual handed down from the Seventh Era: 'Bonfire and Dance.' It is a summation of the deeds of Muleituo, the King of Primeval Savagery. Similar to it are rituals like 'Melody of Red Pears,' 'Fish-Rainbow Fossil,' 'End of Scars,' and so on. "These rituals are still far too obscure and difficult for you at present, involving a wealth of legends and history. Today, all you need to learn is the ancient ritual 'Bonfire and Dance.' "If any among you, like me, particularly yearn for the truths and legends hidden in history and make the study of these arts and the dissemination of knowledge your lifelong pursuit, you may journey to Candle Fortress in the future to seek the path of the 'Secret Words' attribute." Never before had the students listened to Scholar Haide's lectures with such rapt attention as today. The legends recounted by Scholar Haide stirred countless thoughts in the students present, leaving them utterly captivated. —— Attribute [Secret Words]: (History is hidden within maxims; the past forges the future)